Sunday, May 5, 2013

NY Daily News: John Sampson To Be Indicted In State Corruption Probe

First DFER-favorite Malcolm Smith went down on corruption charges - now the Daily News reports that another DFER-favorite, State Senator John Sampson has also been ensnared in the criminal probe:

A prominent Brooklyn state senator is the latest politician snared in a long-running federal corruption probe, with charges expected against him this week, the Daily News has learned.

Sen. John Sampson (D-Brooklyn), once among Albany’s most powerful politicians, is the senator identified in court papers as asking ex-Sen. Shirley Huntley (D-Queens) to wield her influence on behalf of a businessman holding a Kennedy Airport lease in March 2012.

The businessman wanted to expand his lease, and Huntley arranged for him to meet with Port Authority officials, according to sources familiar with the case.
She allegedly took $1,000 in bribes, court papers state — and then wore a wire to record meetings with seven elected officials while working as a federal informant.

According to the sources, the FBI is examining a $100,000 “loan” to Sampson from one of his legal clients, Queens businessman Edul Ahmad, who is charged with mortgage fraud in an unrelated case.
Ahmad also delivered a $40,000 “loan” to U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-Queens) in a deal first exposed by The News.

...

One of Sampson’s allies when the Democrats briefly had control of the Senate is Sen. Malcolm Smith (D-Queens), who was busted in April for trying to bribe his way on to the GOP line in the city’s mayoral race.

Smith has denied any wrongdoing
.
Sampson was expected in federal court later this week as the latest big catch in a political corruption probe.

We're going to take a look in just a bit at all the politicians with connections to the Democrats For Education Reform who have been indicted on criminal charges, convicted on criminal charges or had to resign their offices due to scandal.

Sampson, if the Daily News story is true, seems to be the latest.

POSTSCRIPT: I should note that the DFERs once targeted Shirley Huntley, the disgraced former state senator who seems to have helped ensnare Sampson in the probe, in a primary once because she was perceived as being "anti-charter."

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